Governor sees govt, opp talks in January

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said negotiation between the opposition and the government was expected to begin in January 2021. “The opposition lawmakers will not have to resign or resort to a long march.”

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Sarwar said, “I hope the opposition will make smart decision and will come to the negotiating table. The solution to all the problems in the world is possible only through negotiations.”

He highlighted that the opposition is not united on whether to hold a long march or resign first. “There are disagreements in Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) over long march and resignations. They are yet to reach any conclusion.”

The opposition is playing politics for political interests only, he added.

“They have nothing to do with the people. Accountability issues have nothing to do with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government. Accountability is done by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other institutions.”

Sarwar claimed that the PTI-led government believes in the rule of law. “Political revenge of any kind is out of the question,” he maintained.

Responding to a question, he stated, “I do not have any intuition like Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed regarding the repatriation of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.

The federal government is looking into this matter. Sheikh Rasheed, being Interior Minister, knows more about Nawaz Sharif’s case and governmental affairs.”

Answering another question, he further said, “All the provincial governments, including Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar and myself, are on the same page. As far as bureaucracy is concerned, it is subordinate to the chief executive, which is the chief minister.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2020.